Propeller for vessels.



No. 692,9"). Patented Feb. II, I902.

D. H. ROHWEDDEB.

PROPELLEB FOR VESSELS.

(Application filed May 3, 1901.)

(No Model.)

AWDHEIZVEfVTORM mm A TTORNEY W/TVESSES Tn: Mums PETERS cu. mom-Ln'fla, wnsnmamn. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

DE'rLEE .II. ROI-IWEDDER, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROPELLER FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 692,910, dated February 1 1, 1902.

Application filed May 3, 1901. Serial No. 58,566. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I; DETLEF H. RoHWED- DER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propellers for Vessels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to propelling means for vessels.

Among other objects it is the object of the invention to provide propelling means for a Vessel which can be employed in connection with or independently ofthe stern propeller to increase the efficiency of the latter or ob- Viate the difficulties and disadvantages incident to the same.

A further object is to provide a propelling means which is not as liable to breakage, strain, or disablement as the stern propeller.

A further object is to replace or supplement the stern propeller, Without requiring the reconstruction of the vessel-hull to any considerable extent, with side propelling-wheels.

A further object is the provision of propulsion means enabling a quicker starting and stopping of the vessel and a quick change of course or turning of the vessel.

A further object is the production of means for propelling vessels which will lessen the strain and vibration of the vessel and to a considerable extent steady the vessel while running in a rough sea.

The invention has for a still further object to provide a generally improved, simplified, and practical propelling means for vessels.

With such and other objects in view the invention is embodied in the novel parts, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a practical embodiment of the invention, but desire it understood that the improvements are not limited in their useful applications to the particular construction which for the sake of illustration I have therein delineated.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of a vessel provided with propelling means embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa rear elevation, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the propelling-Wheels and a portion of the vesselhull.

Referring to the drawings,Aindioates a vessel which may or may not be furnished with a stern propeller of any desired or suitable type. In the drawings I show the same provided with two stern propellers B of my invention, but which form the subject-matter of another application and need not be here described.

The hull of the vessel is provided along the side below the water-line with indentations or pockets 0 for propelling-wheels, of which there are shown three on a side in the drawings; but the number is not essential, and I do not wish to be restricted to any prescribed number. Each pocket or indentation is substantially semicircular and the lines of the hull are slightly rounded or beveled ofi to the front and rear edges of the indentations, as indicated at D and E, respectively. .The pockets have Hat and preferably slightly-inclined floors F and ceilings G.

H and I indicate platforms or fins projecting laterally outward beyond the lines of the hull and constituting, in efiect, continuations of the pocket floors and ceilings. These platforms are preferably substantially semicircular in form.

In each pocket or indentation (J is journaled to rotate therein a propelling-wheel K, which is of a size to practically fill the pocket and have its blades K move in a path outward beyond the lines of the hull. As shown in the drawings, the propellers are journaled at a slight inclination from the vertical, the inclination being outward from bottom to top. The propeller can be mounted and con struoted in any suitable or preferred mannerfor instance,-as shown in the drawings, where it will be seen that a shaft L is journaled in suitable bearings L, the blades being secured to the shaft as by means of bolts Z.

Any preferred mechanism may be employed for driving the propellers, and for this purpose I have simply indicated a pitnian M, connected to crank N on the shaft L. The propellers may have independent driving mechanism or they may all be connected by suitable gearing or otherwise to a common drive mechanism therefor and for the stern propeller or propellers. Inasmuch as my invention does not relate to the drive mechanism, I have illustrated and described none, leaving this to the skill of the ship-builder.

The platforms H and I project out slightly beyond the circle described by the propellerblades and are provided with connectingrods 0 or strong netting for the purpose of protecting the propeller from drifting articles when the same is brought in a rough sea to or near to the surface of the water. The propeller-blades are rounded off or turned forward to the outer ends at Pin order to shove or throw the water outward from them and not hold and carry the same into the pocket.

The main portion of the propeller being incased in the pocket and the hull at the sides of the pocket being rounded off gradually to the pocket, it will be understood that there is practically no abutment or obstruction offered to the water rushing past the pockets when the vessel is in motion, and the platforms prevent to a large extent a rush of water into the pockets from the top and bottom. There is therefore in the very rapid rotation of the wheels little back pressure opposing the propelling action of the wheels. Inasmuch as the water to a certain extent is confined between the platforms and prevented from ready escape up and down, the blades obtain a greater purchase on the water, and consequentlya greater driving effect. Owing to the inclination at which the propellerwheels are journaled in the rapid rotation thereof, a limited lifting effect is exerted on the vessel, and consequently they aid in a large degree to steady the vessel in a rough sea and prevent its side rolling.

WVhen the propellers above described are employed in connection with a stern propeller and are driven by the drive mechanism thereof, it will be appreciated that a part at least of the propelling-wheels will be in the water at all times. It will therefore follow that in case the stern propeller is lifted from the water it cannot greatly increase its speed, owing to the resistance on the other propelling-wheels, and when the stern propeller again reaches the waterit will not be subject to the great strain to which the stern propeller when employed alone is often subject. Another advantage of my propelling means is that by rotating the propellers forward in one direction and then rearward in another direction the vessel canbe quickly turned. In fact, the vessel can be turned substantially in its length.

I am aware that propellers rotating on vertical axes at the side of the stern of the vessel have been employed; but in such instance of which I am aware the propellingwheels are considerably smaller than the pockets in which they are located and do not have the same purchase and driving effect as do propellers mounted and constructed according to my invention. In the old construction the action of the propelling-wheels is a stirring or agitating one rather than a driving action.

Having thus described myinvention, what is claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a propelling means for a vessel; the combination with a vessel provided with a pocket or indentation,of closed platforms projecting outwardly from the hull at the bottom and top of said pocket, and a propeller rotatably mounted in said pocket, substantially as described.

2. In a propelling means for vessels, the

combination with a vessel-hull provided with a substantially semicircular pocket or indentation, of closed platforms projecting from the hull at the bottom and top of the said pocket, and a propeller rotatably mounted in said pocket the axis of rotation of said propeller being within the line of the hull of the res sel, substantially as described.

In a propelling means for vessels, the combination with a hull provided with a substantiallysemicircular pocket or indentation, of closed platforms projecting from the hull at the top and bottom of said pocket,and apropellerjournaled in said pocket on an inclined axis, said propeller practically filling the pocket, its blades projecting in the rotation thereof outside of the line of the hull of the vessel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DETLEF H. ROH\VEDDER.

WVitnesses:

GEORGE E. TEW, E. M. STALEY. 

